Speaking to reporters at the party's state headquarters, vice president Wilfred Mesquita said the opposition's consistent dubbing of Parrikar as "Salazar", was perhaps because of the Portuguese dictator's skills as an economist.

"Salazar may have been a hated man in the colonies, but his skills as an economist are world renowned. He was a great economist. Perhaps by calling Parrikar 'Salazar', they may have been referring to our chief minister's economic skills," Mesquita said.

Salazar, a teacher of economics, ruled Portugal and her colonies for nearly 40 years 1932-68. While his skills as an economist were appreciated in Portugal, his brutal approach towards Portuguese colonies made him a much detested personality.

Portuguese colonial rule in Goa lasted nearly 450 years, and ended in 1961 with the Indian Army's liberation of the region.